Ervin v



Oct. 14, 1952 E. v. wAAcK ErAL BEET HARVESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 12. 1948 Oct. 14, 1952 E. v. wAAcK ETAL BEET HARVESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 12, 1948 Oct. 14, 1952 E. v. wAAcK ETAL BEET HARVESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed March 12, 1948 Oct. 14, 1952 E. v. wAAcK ErAl. Re 23,565

BEET HARVESTER Original Filed March 12, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 14, 1952 E. v. wAAcK ETAL BEET HARVESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed March 12, 1948 Reims a. 14,1952' Re. 23,565

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 23,585 BEE'I' HARVESTER Ervin VsWack, Saginaw. Mich., and Edward J.

Flocter, deceased. late of Saginaw. Mich., IW Adalenc E. Floctcl', adminlahairix, Bay Port,

Original No. 2.589.361. dated March 18, 1952. Se-

rial No. 14.782, March 12. l i Application for reissue April 4. 1952, Serial No. 280.558

1s 0mm., (onse-1m Hattegcnclosedlnheavybrackets[]apnearainthcoriginalpatentbutfermsnopartofthis reissue specification: matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

l 2 n The present invention relates to harvesting [Another object is to provide a harvesting machines, and in particular to improvements in machine in which the lifting and pulling confor a single or multirow harvesting machine forY to facilitate relative adjustment with respect to [soil buried root crops such as] beets [and other 5 the soil surface and movement vertically Don analogous plants] striking an obstruction in the harvester path- The principal object of the invention is to proway.] vide a simplified and more dependable crown Another object is to provide improved conveyor topping mechanism in a beet harvester employelements in a harvesting machine in which a pair ing inclined conveyors for frictionally engaging. of endless conveyor belts are arranged in parallel the foliage of around loosened beets for raising relation with one of the flight sides of each in them to the topping operation. adjacent relation, one of which is formed of a Another object is to provide flexible positioning link chain and the other being formed of a fibrous cuide means automatically compensating for beets V-belt to frlctionally and yieldingly engage the of dierent sizes and for engagement by the con.. root crop foliage during the lifting or removal veyor means with variations in the crown poslthereof and while being conveyed to the 'top retion due to irregularities of growth, ground level, moving cutter members. etc., and to automatically adjust the level of the [Another object is to provide a harvesting mabeet crown as presented to the cutters to a proper chine with foliage guiding and directing means topping position. on the lower ends of the conveyor frame structure foliage stalk. and a relatively shallower cut for [Another object is to provide a root cron cutters with a downward essure efcutters so that the root or beet will be cut at a factice to snap on the lower root of the beet as it point slightly below the crown to remove the passes through the cutter. foliage which is disposed of in windrows along high speed and dependable operation. (n t shown.)]

foliage to a location for removal of the foliage to permit vertical adjustment thereof. and posifrom the leaf stalks and stems at a point slightly soil surface] below the crown of the root by means of opposed [Another object is to provide a harvesting rotary knives or other cutting members] machine for root crops such as beets und the [Another object is to provide a harvesting like in which the plant lifting conveyors are yieldto yieldingly and frictionally engage the foliage 0f each conveyor element] and leaf stalks of root plants such as beets. to [Another object is to provide a harvesting thereby lift or pull said plants and their roots machine for root crops such as beets and the from the soil after the root has been loosened] like In which the guide means for directing the 3 leaf stalks of the root plant to the the lifting conveyors are provided with shear pins to allow the conection between the guides and frames to break when encountering an obstruction, or when the end of the guide drops into a hole or recess.

[Another object is to provide a harvester for root crops such as beets and the like, in which the conveyor frames are yieldingly and separably connected at their lower ends to facilitate the removal of earth clods and the cleaning of the endless conveyor elements when the same become clogged with leaf stalks and other parts of the beet or root crop foliage] [Another object of the invention is to provide a harvesting machine capable of being conveniently connected in draft relationship with a tractor. and to provide a power shaft likewise adapted to be connected to the power take-of! coupling of the tracton] foliage and entrance of the ground Other objects and will become apparent during following description of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of the harvesting machine of the present invention. showing portions thereof broken away to illustrate various details of construction and the arrangement of certain drive gearing.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the harvesting machine showing the manner in which the endless lifting conveyors are arranged for yieidlngly and frictionaily engaging the foliage of beets and the like.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the endless conveyor element supporting frame structure, showing the yleidingly mounted idlers for urging the co-active flights of the endless conveyor elements into contactual engagement one with the other.

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the endless conveyor element supporting frame structure. further showing the manner in which the idle rollers are sup rted.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side eievational view showing the guide members for positioning the beet [or other root crop plant] so that the same will be presented to the rotary cutting knife in a proper relation to sever the foliage from the beet at a point adjacent the crown thereof.

Figure 6 view taken on looking in the tary sectional line 6-8 (obliquely) of Figure 2. direction of the arrows and showin which the positioner gulxs is an enlarged fragmen Figur taken on the oblique line 1-1 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows showing a set of releasable arms yieldingly connected together to urge the lower ends as well as the upper ends of the conveyor frames in a direction toward one another.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a gear housing employed for transmitting power from the tractor to the endless conveyor elements and rotary cutting knives.

Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the oblique line 9-9 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows to illustrate the manner in which a beet [or other root is urged downwardly by the guide its rearward travel to properly position the foliage Figure l0 is ner in which the beet [or other root crop plant] is guided and presented to the cutting knives for point slightly adjacent the crown.

Figure il is an enlarged fragmentary edge elevationai view of one of the rotary cutting knives showing the manner in which the same is dished. and radially slotted at the cutting edge to facilitate rapid severance of the beet from the foliage.

Figure i2 is an enlarged perspective view of the foliage guide member, there being two such guides on the lower end of the conveyor frame for guiding the foliage of the [root crop such as] beets [and the like] to the mouth or entrance of the coacting endless conveyors, and

Figure i3 is a fragmentary part sectional view showing the wheeled frame and conveyor frames in perspective, and illustrating the manner in which the innermost conveyor frames are adiustably connected to the wheeled frame.

In the drawings, referring more in detail, the harvesting machine comprises a wheeled implement frame generally designated 5 (Figures 1 and 2.) formed of longitudinal side frame members 6 of channel section connected at the front and rear by transverse frame bars 1 and l respectively. likewise of channel section. The ends of the frame bars 6. 1 and Il may be welded or otherwise secured together to form a rigid rectangular implement frame. Extending trans'- versely of the frame i is a pair of shafts 9 and iii which are secured to the side frame bar i by U-bolts il. The lowermost bar l! projects beyond the end of the bar B and is provided with an axle portion i2 for supporting a wheel Il having an inflated tire Il.

The rear portion of the wheeled frame 5 is provided on each side with spaced uprights l5 and i6 which are connected at their upper ends by transverse frame bars i1 and il (Figure l) The upper ends of the uprights i5 and i6 are connected one to the other by angle frame bars il. A similar frame structure is formed on the front end of the wheeled frame 5. and includes a pair of uprights 2li of channel section, having their lower ends welded or otherwise fastened to the side frame bars l, while their upper ends are connected by means of a transverse bar 2l likewise of channel section.

Mounted on the upper end of each of the upa bearing bracket 22 which is adapted the ends of a rotary shaft 21. which is supported intermediate its ends by spaced bearing brackets 24. Mounted on the shaft 23 intermediate the brackets 24 is a gear housing 2i of and collars 2B are secured on prevent axial movement of the gear housing with respect to said shaft. A beveled gear (not shown) is affixed to the shaft 23 within the gear housing 25. and is adapted to mesh with a similar gear (not shown) on the upper end of a shaft 2l which said housing 26 so that the shaft lower end cover plate 2l. shown removed in Figure 8.

projecting into the gear housing 2l is a drive shaft 3l which has aillxed to the end thereof the hub 3| of a beveled gear I2 for drivingly engaging a beveled scar Il aillxed to a lateral shaft 3i. 'I'he lateral shaft ll projects through one wall of the gear housing 2l and is also fitted with a beveled gear Il for drivingly engaging a gear 'Il on the lower end of the shaft 21. The shaft #Il is rotatably supported in a bearing bracket Il mounted centrally of the front frame member l. aillxed thereto by welding or in any other approved manner. The shaft il is adapted to drive suitable conveyor elements which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The wheeled frame I is adapted to attach to a tractor in draft relationship therewith by attaching the coupling arm 88 to the tractor coupling (not shown), so that the power take-oil shaft extension I9 may be coupled to the shaft ll by means of a universal Joint lt, and thereby drive the shaft I and the shaft 23 through the shaft 21 as previously described.

Opposite sides of Mounted on the shaft 23 on thegearcasing 251s apairofsimilar gearcasings Il and l2. which are held against axial movement by collars 4I and u securely mounted on the shaft 2l at each side oi' the respective gear housings Il and 42. Journaled in each of the housings Il and l2 are short shafts and i to provide a pair of downwardly extending spaced apart shafts on each side of the gear box 25. The shaft 2l is provided with a series of spaced beveled gears 4l which are adapted to drivingly engage beveled gears 48 on the upper ends of the shafts 46. The lower ends of the shafts 45 and 48 are Journaled in suitable bearings provided in the upper ends of spaced conveyor supporting frames generally designated 5I. Since cach conveyor frame El is identical in construction, a description of one will suilice for both, and as shown in Figures 8 to 6 inclusive, each frame comprises a pair of spaced parallel plates arranged in the same plane having secured to the top wall thereof longitudinally extending re-inforcing frame bars 52 of channel section (Figure 7). The conveyor i2 are each supported at their upper ends on each side of the gear housing 25 by the lower ends of the downwardly depending shafts 45 and 4B. Thus, the conveyor frame bars 5I and I2 may swing in from one another with the pairs of shafts Il and Il acting as the pivot axis therefore as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

'Ihe shafts 45 and 46 project through suitable bearings in the frame bars 5| and I2. and are provided on their lower ends with sprocket wheels and pulleys so that each pair of shafts Il and Il will be fitted with a sprocket wheel and a pulley having a V-groove. The lower end of each of the shafts l5 and Il will thus support the upper ends of the endless conveyor frame members lI-l2, and the lower ends are adapted to be releasably and yieldingly held together by means of a coil spring 53 which has one end attached to an upright I4 secured to the frame bar il, and the other end detachably secured to an upright 55 which has its lower end welded or otherwise afilxed to the opposed frame bar Il.

One end of the coil spring 53 is provided with a hook II which is received in a screw hook Il adiustably mounted in the upper end of the upright Il. The opposite end is provided with an extension Il which is adapted to pass through an opening in the upper end of the upright l5, and is bent a lateral direction away 6 laterailyasatllforbeingreceivedinanctch Il of a clamping lever arm ll.

The clamping lever arm has an operating handie l2 extending anguiarly therefrom, and said arm is provided with a seating portion 6I for belng received in a correspondingly shaped seat in the upright II. The upper end of the upright Il is bent downwardly as at Il to provide a seat for a projection 8l on the arm il. so that when the operating lever l2 tion shown in Fig. 7, the uprights Il and l5 will be placed under tension and the clamping lever arm Il will be held against displacement by reason of the fact that the oifset end Il will be in a position ou center from the projection (il.

Thus. the lower ends of the conveyor frames "-52 will be yieldingly urged together. and in order to support said frameset their lower ends. ilexible cables It are attached to screw eyes Il provided on the uprights il and 6I, these cable sections Il being connected together to form a bridle. the end being connected to a crank arm It amxed to a transverse shaft Il which has its ends Journaled in suitable bearings 'Il in the frame-uprights 2l.

One end of the shaft t! projects through one of the uprights 2l as at 1| for receiving the hub of an operating lever l2. having a latch which is adapted to cooperate with a segment rack Il to hold the arms Il in a pre-determined position.

Thus, it will be seen that a pair of downwardly and forwardly inclined spaced apart conveyor frames are supported on each side of the median line of the wheeled frame l. and one of each pair of conveyor supporting frames 5|-52 is adapted to be provided with a link chain conveyor 'il of the endless type which is trained over the sprocket and idler 'il and 'il respectively. located at the upper and lower ends of the conveyor frame respectively. The sprocket wheel 'il is mounted on the lower end of one of each pair of shafts 45 and Il (Figure 2) to prevent axial movement of the upper end of the corresponding conveyor frame members lI-52.

The other frame structure II-52 of each pair is provided with pulleys Il having V-grooves for accommodating an endle v-belt ll. The pulley located at the upper end of each conveyor frame structure is aiilxed to one of the pairs of drafts Il and 4I, while the V-pulley for the lower end of the endless V-belt Il is supported on a short shaft 'il held in place by suitable nuts 19a (Figure 3).

In order to hold the nights of the co-actlng endless conveyor elements 'M and 'Il in contaetual engagement through the major portion of their travel. one conveyor frame structure 5i-52 of each set of co-acting conveyors is provided with a series of rockably mounted arms 8l having collar Il are conveyor chain engaging idlers Il mounted on short shafts or bolts having a headed end I5 and a re nut Il on the opposite end thereof (Figure 4). Sccuredfo the other end of thepin l2is the collar 81 of an arm 8l. which is urged in a clockwise direction by means of a coil spring 88 anchored to oneendofthearmllasatllandtotheconveyor frame member 5l at the other end by being received or hooked in a slot Il extending inwardly from the edge thereof. Thus, the idlers Il will yleldingly urge the co-active conveyor ilight in a is swung downwardly to posieases lateral direction toward the flexible V -belt of the adjacent endless conveyor.

Similarly, the endless V -belt 12 is provided with idler rollers 02 which are mounted on fixed shafts 02. and said idler rollers 02 are arranged in staggered relation with respect to the idler rollers (Figure 3). i

The lower ends of each endless conveyor supporting frame are provided with foliage guide members, including a bar 00 having a attened portion which is bolted to the conveyor frame member 5| by suitable `bolts 50 held in place by retaining nuts 51. The bolts 00 extend through suitable openings in the side flanges of the channel-shaped conveyor frame bar 52 so as to securely hold the flattened portion 05 of the guide bars 04 to the lower ends of said conveyor frames.

The free end of each guide bar 04 is slightly curved, and is adapted to be attached to a prolection 00 having a pointed end 00 to provide a guide ringer. Bolts |00 of a relatively soft metal are provided for securing the guide extensions 90 on the guide arm I0 to permit said bolts to be sheared when the guide extension 00 strikes an obstruction or engages within a hole or opening. The guide extension 00 is provided with an upwardly inclined guide bar l0| supported at its upper end by means of a rod |02, which is welded or otherwise held in place.

Mounted on the front frame member 1 is a pair of rearwardly directed bearing brackets |02 for supporting the ends of a transverse shaft |04. The shaft is further supported by means of an intermediate bracket |05, and mounted on the shaft |00 between the bearing brackets |02 and |05 is a pair of sleeves |05 for rockably supporting a lifter arm |01.

The rear end of the lifter arm is curved down wardly as at |00l and provided with a lifter |50 having a point ||0. The arms |00 are offset so that the litters |00 will be positioned at the lower end of each co-acting set of endless conveyor elements. As shown in Figure 2, the pointed end I0 is directly below the lower end of the conveyor frames, and by reason of the lateral offset, the lifter |00 will be positioned to loosen the earth along a plant row prior to the entrance of the foliage of the [root crop] beet to the mouth of each set of co-acting conveyor elements.

Thus. the tap roots of the beets are broken and the beet body is partially unearthed so that by the time the foilage of the beet passes between the guide members or extensions 90 for being frictionally engaged by the oo-acting 'sets of endless conveyor elements, the earth about the beet body will be considerably loosened.

The rockably mounted lifter arms |01 are provided with lugs into which is hooked one end of an operating rod ||2 as at ||2. The upper end of the operating rod ||2 of each lifter arm |01 is pivotally connected to an arm lll, which is amxed to a transverse shaft ||5 having its ends Journaled in suitable bearings H0 in the frame uprights (Figure l) One end of the shaft ||5 is provided with an operating lever ||0 which is adapted to be locked in a pre-determined position by means of a latch carried by the lever, and engageable with a sector rack ||0 amxed to the frame upright 20,

By manipulation of the control levers 12 and ||l as above described. the lower ends of the coacting endless conveyor frames and the lifters |09 may be adjusted relative to the earth surface so that the guide members 00 will travel along a plant row in slightly spaced relation thereabovc in advance of the lifter |00 adjusted to position the point I|0 a suitable depth below the soil surface to unearth the beets and permit the foliage to be grasped by the co-acting sets of endless conveyor elements 10 and 10.

In normal operation the fingers 99 will inst clear the ground, auch )lagers being spaced apart a distance greater than the width o! the exposed beet crowns, and will thus pass under any coernanging foliage which will be raised by the inclined guide bars 101 into proper position for engagement within the ends of the conveyor elements 74 and 78. The crown o] the beet is normolly exposed and will extend above ground level a dittdnce which may vary with the size of the beet. For example, the vertical exposure of the crown may range from one inch in the case of a three-inch diameter beet to as much as three inches for an eight-inch diameter beet. In practice the ends of the conveyor may be set omvorimately seven inches above the ground level which will result in the foliage o! the beet becoming engaged by the conveyor a distance in the order ol four to si.: inches above the crown level.

After the beets [or other root plant crops] are loosened and pulled from the soil, they travel upwardly and are adapted to be engaged by rotary cutting disks l2| positioned on opposite sides of the co-acting endless conveyor elements 'l0 and 10. and are aflixed to the lower ends of shafts |22 which are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings carried by the conveyor frame members 5|, these shafts |22 being disposed at a slight angle with relation to a vertical line.

The rotary disk cutters |2| are received on a threaded portion |22 on the lower ends of the shafts |22. and are clamped in place by a retaining nut |20. The upper ends of the shafts |22 have anlxed thereto sprocket wheels |25 for receivlng sprocket chains |20 which are drlvingly connected to a sprocket wheel |21 on the shafts 45 and 00 by having their collars |20 keyed or otherwise secured thereto.

Upon rotation of the shafts 45 and 00, the rotary cutting disks |2| will be driven in opposite directions. since it is intended to arrange the bevel gears 01 and I0 so that the shafts 05 and I0 of each pair will rotate in opposite directions. That is to say, the pair of shafts 25 will rotate in opposite directions, and similarly, the shafts 05 will rotate in opposite directions to impart movement of the co-acting conveyor elements 14 and 10 in a direction so that the cooperative portions of their nights will travel in the same direction. It will be seen that the shafts |22 will likewise rotate in opposite directions.

Each rotary cutting disk |2| is dished as shown in Figure l1, and the peripheral cutting edge is provided with a series of radially extending serratlons |20 that serve to draw the beets therebetween and facilitate the cutting operation as the machine is operated. The edges are sharpened to provide a relatively keen cutting edge |20, also shown in Figure 11.

Depending from each conveyor frame plate 5| is an arm |2| (Figures 5 and 6), to which is attached the angled end |22 of a positioner bar |22. The positloner bar |22 has its angled end |22 pivotally mounted in a bearing opening in the lower end of the arm |2|. and said angled end is threaded for receiving retaining nuts or the like |20. Encircling the angled extension |22 is a coil spring |25 which has one end in abutting relation with the depending arm |2| and its opposite end in engagement with a washer or the like adjacent the bend of the angled extensions III. The free ends ot the poeition'er bars III are upwardly and outwardly bent as at III, and are arranged in spaced-apart relation between the conveyor trame plates Il and the rotary cutting disks i2! (Figures 5 and 6). Extending upwardly from each positioner bar III is a projection Ill, the end of which is adapted to operate in [a slot itl] an opening 138 formed in each o! the conveyor frame plates li, and is held in piace by means o! a nut I Il threaded on the upper end thereof. A coil spring Ill surrounds each of the extensions |31, and has one end in abutting relation with the underside of the conveyor frame plates Il, and its opposite end in engagement with a washer i held in place by a. nut M2.

The positioner bars IIJ are intended to correctiy present the beet [or other root crop plant] between the rotary cutting disks ill. and [if the beets as they pass between the positioner bars are incorrectly positionedJ the bars I Il will engage opposite sides of the beet [body] crown at the juncture of the foliage stalle and draw the same downwardly so that the beet will be severed from the foliage at a. point slightly below the crown, as shown in Figure 10. The beet B is i1- lustrated as being severed, while the foliage is frictionally and yieldingiy held between the coactive nights of the endless conveyor elements 'Il and 18.

As previously mentioned, the conveyor may initially engage the beet foliage some four to sis: inches above the crown level at which point the foliage is relatively soft and compressible so that while the stalk diameter at the point of juncture with the beet crown. where it is relatively hard and resistant to compression, may range from two to four inches, the foliage of all beets will be compressed to a dimension well under two inches where engaged by the cooperating conveyor elements 74, 78. Thus, the foliage of all beets will readily enter between the ends 136 of the positioner bars which are at a point close to the lower level of the conveyor elements. As the foliage progresses between the positioner bars the harder portion of the foliage stalk engages and spreads the inclined forward ends of the positioner bar elements which are horizontally yieldable due to compression springs 140. In the illustrative embodiment an initial compression of about sia-ty pounds in each of the springs 140, providing a lateral preload resisting about twenty-five pounds at the forward ends of the positioner bars 133, was found to provide satisfactory operation while a preload of approximately twenty-five pounds in each of the springs 135 acting in direct compression provided equivalent lateral loading at the rear ends of the positioner bars. This load-- ing is such that when the beet crown at the functure of the foliage stalk comes into engagement with the positioner bars, further lateral opening will be resisted, the angle of the crown at such juncture being approximately 45. Thus. from this point on, the crown of the beet at the functure of the foliage stalk will continue to engage the positioner bars causing the frictionally engaged foliage to slip through the conveyor elements 74, 78 as the crown of the beet travels downA the slope of the positioner bars leading away from the conveyor path.

The total lead of the forward end of the positioner bars away from the conveyors is preferably made sucient to cause a positioning action to take place on all beets encountered in normal operation regardless of the variation in initial l0 engaging position of the conveyors with the foliage relative to the crown level. The positioner bars 133 are preferably spaced laterally in their dead position, as shown in Fig. o, to require a slight displacement by the foliage stalk of the smallest beets to be harvested which stalk may have a diameter in the order of two inches, and the bars are provided with suicient lateral flea:- ibility to accommodate the largest stalk which may be in the order of four inch in diameter.

Duetothehighspeedatwhichthehawester is constructed to ope'ate, conveyor speeds in the order of eight to ten feet per oend may be encountered so that the initial contact of the beet crown with the forward ends of the positioner bars 136 may involve a considerable initial shock| load which will have a t' foliage at the point engaged by the conveyor. In this connection the springs 140 operate as vertical shock absorbers to prevent breaking of the foliage.

It will be seen from the phantom view of relatively ecctreme beet sizes shown in Figs. 9 and 10 that the crown of a large beet will profeet through the positioner bars 133 to a greatervertical height than will the crown of a smaller beet, thereby providing a relatively greater depth of cut in the tends to a greater depth in a large beet than a small one, which factor is automatically correlated with the diameter of the stalk of the beet at its juncture with the crown.

It will be understood that the fuices from the beet tend to lubrite the positioner bars and that this factor plus t tension in the foliage frictionally gripped by the conveyor elements 74, 78. cause a beet to progressively slide along the positioner bars with its avis substantially normal to the bars at the line of contact. Thus, by the timeagiven beetreachesthatportionofthepositioner bars lying Parallel to the seen in Fig. 5, the axis of the stantially normal to the longitudinal line of the uppermost edge of the cutters 121 and will be introduced to such cutters at a proper crown level, automatically varying with the particular beet size.

the cutters 121 is of great importance in producing dependable high speed operation. It is important that the cutting discs 121 be power driven, that they have a convex lower surface and that sei-rations having a "biting" contour be provided. Such serrations may be provided bygrinding radialoroovesalong the lower convex face extending outward! perimeter of the discs. With this construction. the beet, which is held against the posittoner bars and led into the cutters by the conveyor movement, is engaged and driven through the cutters by the gripping action of the serrations rendered extremely efectiva by the wedging pressure providing a downward thrust against the lower portion of the beet root the face serrations of the cutting discs into the beet to tween the cutters a point is reached where the wedging pressure will snap the remaining uncut portion of the beet so that the cutters need not overlap but may have perimeters spaced in the order of it, inch or more while retaining positive I every beet root will be and properly separated from the foliage. It is important that the convex surfaces of the cutting lltothe.

discs be on the lower side so as to prevent the wedging action from amming the crown of the beet against the positloner bars as would be the case if the connes, surfaces of the discs were located on top. The wedging slope in the disc need not be confined to the rim portion alone. as disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, but any dished shape will suglce which will produce a wedging pressure as the cut progresses forcing the serrations to bite into the beet as it is fed through the cutters.

It is preferable that the positioner bars be parallel to the cutting plane of the discs throughout the cutting portion of the beets travel, and also parallel to the line of conveyor travel so as to minimize the length of foliage pull through the conveyor elements 74, 78 and assure proper conveyance of the severed foliage and crown portion.

after the cut has been made. The axes of the cutters need not be parallel in a transverse plane but may be inclined to produce any desired angle of cut through the beet crown. it is desirable that the cutter speed be synchronized with conveyor speed so that the cutters' action in driving the beet will approximately equal the speed at which the foliage is being driven by the conveyor. Cutters of fourteen inches in diameter have proved highly satisfactory in operation.

when the beet B has been severed the body portion falls downwardly upon an endless conveyor Ill arranged one at each side oi the wheeled trame B. The endless conveyors ill are provided with side chains I which are passed over suitable sprockets |41 carried adjacent the ends of transverse shafts lili suitably supported at its ends in bearing brackets Il! attached to the side frame members l. The shafts Ill extend from one side oi the frame to the other, so that both endless conveyors Ill may be accommodated on the shafts. The endless conveyor chains |48 are connected by transverse nights III, and one oi the transverse shafts |48 has keyed thereto a sprocket wheel for receiving a drive chain III. The drive chain Ill is trained over a double sprocket wheel lll keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 35 projecting laterally from the gear box 2l.

The endless conveyors III are adapted to dump the severed beet bodies upon a similar transverse conveyor IBI, which is supported in suitable bearing brackets Ill on shafts and sprockets similar to that described in connection with the endless conveyors |45. One of the supporting shafts oi the transverse endless conveyor Il is provided with a bevel gear (not shown) for being drlvingly engaged by a level gear (not shown) on the shaft |48.

A platform |63 suitably supported between the side frame bars i on transversely extending bars (not shown). is provided for supporting the gear box 2B and the gear box may be fastened to said platform IBI by screws or other anchoring elements.

Supported between the uprights Il is a transverse bar I having a series oi spaced bearing brackets ill for rotatably supporting a shaft |66. Similarly, a transverse frame bar |61 extends between the frame uprights it and is provided with bearing brackets similar to the bearing brackets lll. for rotatably supporting a transverse shalt IBI. The shafts lil and IBB are provided with spaced apart sprocket wheels over which is trained sprocket chains it! which are connected by transverse conveyor flights |10, thus providing an endless conveyor beneath the extreme upper ends or each pair oi co-acting endless conveyor elements Il and 1l for receiving the foliage and leal stalks ot the beet plants and conveying them rearwardly. Vertical partition plates |1| and |12 are supported between the transverse bars i and N1 with the end partition plates |12 .being supported bythevertical uprights II and Il. The vertical partition plates |1| and |12 are arranged on opposite sides o! the conveyors Ill. and said partition plates are provided with rearwardly and downwardly extending side wall portions Ill, connected at their lower ends by downwardly inclined walls |14. The foliage and leaf stalks will thus be conveyed rearwardly to the discharge chute formed by the downwardly inclined side walls |13 and the connecting bottom wall Ill, so astobedischargedonthegroundorintoawagon connected to the rear o! the wheeled frame i.

Also supported by the rear frame member l beneath the endless conveyors |10. is a transverse vertical wall portion Ill which extends upwardly from one side o! the endless conveyor along the rear portion of the trame as shown in Figure 1. and one end is provided with a vertical wall ill to prevent the beets from being displaced.

The endless conveyors |10 at each side of the wheeled frame are driven by a sprocket chain |18, which has one end trained over one oi the sprocket wheels of the double sprocket il! on the shaft 3l projecting laterally from the gear housing 2l. The other end ci the sprocket chain ill is trained over a sprocket wheel mounted on the sliait ill in alignment with the double sprocket The upper ends or portions of the conveyor supporting frames lI-Il may be yieldingly urged together in substantially the same manner as the lower ends by providing the frame members with upright!! Il (Figure 1) one being shown having a spring I3 arranged in substantially the same manner as pointed out in connection with the arms Il and Il and spring 53 shown in Figure 7.

In Figure 13, there is shown means for supporting the innermost endless conveyor supporting frames ii-SI on the wheeled frame o! the harvesting machine, and in order to avoid confusion in Figures l and 2, the means is shown separately. The wheeled frame 5 is provided with a central longitudinally extending frame bar lll which may have its ends connected to the iront and rear trame bars 1 and 8 by being welded or otherwise attached thereto. The longitudinal frame bar is oi channel section, and has mounted on the web portion thereof a shalt bearing I1 for further supporting the power shalt 30 intermediate its ends.

In order to support the innermost conveyor frames ll-l2. a pair ol angle brackets IBI are fastened to the side iianges of the longitudinal frame bar lll by means oi' a bolt and slot connection III! to facilitate vertical adjustment of the angle bars. The laterally projecting arms of the anglo brackets |8| are connected to the web portions oi the innermost conveyor supporting frames i! by means oi a bolt and slot connection |83. Thus, the adjacent endless conveyor supporting frames II-Il may be adjusted vertically and horizontally, and when the bolt and slot connection |82 and |83 are tightened by a wrench. the innermost conveyor supporting frames 5|- 52 will be held rigidly to the wheeled frame l. The structure shown in Figure 13 is intended to mount the innermost conveyor frames I|l2. and by employing the yielding connection shown in Figure 7, at the lower and upper ends of the co-active sets of endless conveyor elements. the ventlon, and that various changes in the shape. frames will be held in a predetermined adiust'ed size and arrangement of paris maybe resorted position. both conveyor frame structures lI-l! to without departing from the spirito! the inbeing supported at the lower ends by the flexible vention or the scope of the subjoined claims. bridle cable Il. What we claim ls:

In operation, the wheeled frame is connected [1. In a harvesting machine for root crop in draft relationship with a farm tractor or plants, a wheeled frame adapted to be connected other vehicle (not shown) by connecting the ln draft relationship with a tractor zgiicle. lifter draft tongue 38 to the tractor coupling element means on the forward end of the fr e for par- (not shown) and similarly connecting the drive tially unearthing the roots of said root plants.

shaft extension 39 to the power take-oil' of the guide ngers on the frame, a pair of ilexible endtractor (not shown). less conveyor elements operatively associated When the tractor and wheeled frame l are with said frame for frlct-ionally engaging the thus connected. the litters |08 are positioned at foliage of said plants to elevate the same and one end of a pair of spaced [rootplant or] beet convey them rearwardly and upwardly, disk rows and adjusted to the proper depth sothat shaped driven cutter knives formed with upforward movement of the wheeled frame and wardly and outwardly iiared rim sections in the litters |09 will unearth the beets B by breaking conveyor pathway for removing the foliage from body of the beet. Simultaneously, the foliage the roots of said crops to one side of the wheeled and leaf stalks of the beet will have passed beframe. and means for conveying the foliage tween the guide bars 08 and will enter the mouth rearwardly on said frame. said flexible endless of each pair of coacting endless conveyor eleconveyor elements being arranged in a common ments Il and 1l. which are driven at a speed plane with their adjacent coacting flight runs by the shaft l0 and the previously described 25 in mutual contactual engagement] wardly by the tractor, and the beet plants are oi' said crops. endless conveyor elements supconveyed rearwardly and upwardly to the posi ported on said frame adjacent said lifting means veyor |80 from where it is discharged on the 40 endless conveyor elements being arranged in a |10 for being discharged rearwardly of the 5 lifter on the front end of the wheeled frame for wheeled frame through the discharge chutes Ill. partially unearthing the roots of said plants. The co-acting endless conveyors can be adyielding and flexible endless conveyor elements justed vertically by Amanipulating the control rockably mounted on said wheeled frame to swing lever 12 to position the guide bars 88 a predeo termined distance from the plant row surface. end adjacent said lifter for yieldingly and friccontrol is provided for the pair of co-acting endless conveyor elements being ed in a conveyor elements at each side of the wheeled o common plane with adjacent co-acting ight frame. runs in mutual contactual engagement.)

The co-acting runs oi the conveyors M and [4. In a harvesting machine for root crop I8 yieldingly and frictionaily engage the foliage plants, a wheeled frame adapted to be connected and securely hold the same during their upward lifter adiustably mounted on the front end of said yielding engagement one with the other. ably mounted on said frame with one end ar- Since it is common practice to thin root plants ranged above the lifter and extending upwardly such as beets. the plant rows develop in a reguiar and rearwardly therefrom for frictionally and line so as to be easily guided to the mouths oi' yieldlngly engaging the foliage of said plants. the endless conveyors by the guide rods 88. disk shaped rotary cutting knives formed with It is to be understood that the forms of the upwardly flared sharpened rim sections on each invention herewith shown and described are to side of said conveyor pathway adjacent the upper be taken as preferred embodiments of the in- 7s ends o! said conveyors for removing the roots of said plants during their rearward conveyor travel. means. operatively connected to said frame and endless conveyors for adjusting the endless conveyors vertically and laterally, and idler rollers on said frame and engageable with one of said endless conveyors for yieldingly urging the co-acting flight runs of said conveyors into mutual contactual engagement. said endless conveyors arranged with their adjacent `coacting flight runs in mutual contactual engagement.)

[5. In a. harvesting machine for root crop plants. a wheeled frame adapted to be connected in draft relationship with a tractor vehicle, a lifter mounted on the forward end of said frame to unearth the roots of said plants. a pair of upwardly and rearwardly inclined endless conveyors mounted on said frame with their adjacent co-acting flight runs in mutual contactual engagement to frictionaily and yieldingly engage the foliage of said plants at a point above the lifter, a pair of rotary cutting knives formed with rolled, upwardly flared. sharpened rim sections arranged one on each side oi said pair of endless ends for removing during their travel rearwardly. yieldably mounted positioner bars susthe front ends of which vertically adjustable said conveyors and rotary are both horizontally and means for driving cutting knives] [6. In a harvesting machine for root crop plants, a wheeled frame adapted to be connected in draft relation with a tractor vehicle, mounted on said frame to partially uneart roots of said crops in a plant row. a pair of endless conveyor elements inclined upwardly and rearwardly and arranged with their adjacent coacting flight runs in contactual engagement, the entrance between said conveyor elements being located in spaced relation above said lifter so that the conveyor elements will frictionally grip the foliage of the partially unearthed root crop plants and convey them toward the rear portion of the wheeled frame. means operatively associated with said frame said endless conveyor shaped rotary cutting for adjustably suppo elements, a pair of knives formed with -upwardly flared rolled rim sections arranged one on each side of the conveyor pathway .to sever the roots from said plants as they move rearwardly and upwardly, an endless conveyor for conveying the roots to one side of the wheeled frame, an endless conveyor for conveying the foliage rearwardly of said wheeled frame. and gearing means for driving the conveyor elements, rotary knives and conveying means] [1. In a harvesting machine for root crop plants, a wheeled frame adapted to be connected in draft relationship with a. tractor vehicle, a lifter adiustably mounted on the front end of partially unearthing the roots of said plants. a pair o: endless flexible conveyor elements extending upwardly and rearwardly from a location spaced above said lifter with their adjacent co-active ight runs in mutual contactual engagement, yieldingly mounted idlers for urging the flight run of one of said conveyors into yielding engagement with the flight run of the other conveyor, a pair of disk shaped rotary cutting knives having upwardly rolled sharpened rim sections arranged one on each side of the conveyor pathway with their axis parallel and substantially perpendicular to the endless conveyors, a shaft connected to the tractor vehicle for driving the endless conveyors and rotary cutrting 'I5 adapted to be connected in 16 ting knives. and levers for adjusting the position of said endless conveyor elements] [8. A harvesting machine for root crop plants, a wheeled frame adapted to be connected in draft relationship with a tractor vehicle, a lifter plow on the front end of said vehicle, a pair of endless conveyor elements supported by said frame in a common plane with adjacent flight runs in mutual contactual engagement and extending -upwardly and rearwardly from said plow for engaging the foliage ci the plants after they are partially unearthed by said lifter and conveying them rearwardly. a pair of disk shaped rotary cutting knives provided with side of said conveyor pathway roots of the plants ward travel, and a transversely yieldable positioner bar pivotaliy mounted on each conveyor pathway and yieldable vertically at a correctly posiroot of said plant and presenting the same to the cutting knives so that the root will be severed at a point slightly below the crown of the root] [9. In a harvesting beets in spaced plant rows, adapted to be connected in draft relationship with a tractor vehicle. a pair of lifters mounted end of said frame for unearthing a series of flexible endless conveyor elements arranged in pairs with their adjacent flight contactual engagement and extending upwardly and rearwardly from a point above said lifters for frictionally gripping the foliage of said beets and conveying them upwardly and rearwardly, disk shaped cutting knives formed with upwardly arranged on each machine for harvesting a wheeled frame side with their cutting edges extending beneath said adjacent night runs for severing the beets from the foliage during their rearward travel, and means operatively connected to the tractor for driving the conveyor elements and rotary cutting knives] [10. In a harvesting machine for harvesting plant rows, a wheeled frame draft relationship a pair of llfters arranged in spaced relation and adiustably supported on the front of said frame, a pair of endless conveyor elements operatively associated with said frame and extending upwardly and rearwardly from a location above each lifter for frictionally gripping the foliage oi the beets and lifting the same when partially unearthed by the lifter, at least one of said conveyor elements of each pair being formed of yieldable material, horizontally disposed outwardly flared positioner bars pivotally connected at their rear ends to said frame and yieldable transversely with relation thereto, disk shaped rotating cutting knives with upwardly rolled and sharpened rim sections positioned adjacent the conveyor pathways for severing the beets :rom the foliage, and means operatively connected to the tractor vehicle for driving the conveyor elements and cutting knives, said pairs of endless conveyor elements being arranged in a common plane with adjacent flight runs of each pair in mutual contactual engagement to yieldingly grip the beet foliage of beets of various dimensions] harvesting machine for harvesting beets in spaced plant rows, a wheeled frame draft relationship eases 17 withatractorvehic1e.apairoiltetsarranged inopacedrelationonthe-ontoi'saidi'ramefor Imearthirrgthgbcets,apairotendlessuv partially oonveyorelelnenarnngedin wardly rearwardly trom eachI lii'ter4 with their adjacent co-acting contactuai engagement for irictionally gripping the foliage of said beets rockably mounted ams on said i'rame. idlers on the ends of the arms, resilient means for yieldably swinging said idlers into engagement with one of said conveyor elements for urging it laterally towand the companion conveyor element. diskshaped, rotary cutting knives formed with upwardly ilared rolled rim sections mounted beneath the endless conveyor elements and arranged one on each side ot the conveyor pathways for severing the beets from the foliage at a point below the crown, and a pair voi' positioner bars mounted in advance of the rotary cutting knives arranged one on cach side of the conveyor pathways for guiding and presenting the best in proper relation to the rotary cutting halves.)

[13. In a harvesting machine oi the class described. a wheeled trame adapted to be connetted t0 a power vehicle and including meansoperatively associated with said frame for unearthing the roots of the plants to hernan-vested, conveyor means on said frame tor irictionally engalng the foliage oi said plants to elevate and convey them upwardly and rearwardly. said conveyor means comprising a continuous nexible Y-belt element and a continuous link chain element, driven cutting means operatively mountcd on each side of the conveyor pathway and comprising spaced-apart cutting disks formed with upwardly rolled ilared rim sections mounted thereon in pairs, and means for driving said disks, said continuous v-belt and continuous link chain being arranged in side by side relation with their adjacent coacting night runs in mutual ccntactuai engagement] [14. The combination dened in claim 13 in which the peripheral cutting edge oi each cutting disk is formed with a plurality of radially extending serrations] [15. The combination set forth in claim 13 in which the horizontally disposed positioner bars depend from the conveyor frame and are spaced a predetermined distance above the cutting disks,

flight runs in mutual- .18 1 said bars being yieldable from each other to scte beets o1' varying diameters.)

16. 11rd beet harvesting machine of the type gamin the folien severing the crown und foliage body of the beet root. improved means-for presenting each beet to the eutter'e at either ride of mowing turfaces of said conveyor;4 said guides being cons with continuous longitudinally extending surfaces for simultaneous engagement with the foliage stall: und the crown of each beet root during' its conveyance. notwithctnndmg variations in beet sizes, and said vulde surfaces having c path departing from the conveyor suihciently to conse positive vertice! positioning engagement with the crown of cach ua said beet is conveyed toward the beet positioning means as set forth in claim it' wherein sold guides 'from a position adjacent thesurfaces of the beet conveyor away from the' oonveyor suviciently to engage each beet crown, and further eztend'h: the direction of conveyor travel i in u line substantially parallel I cutters. i 17. Improved with said conveyor. 4 it. Improved beet positioning means as set) forth in claim 16 wherein a vertically yielding mating remove to me frame o provided for f the forward ende of said guider. i 19. Improved beet i positioning said beet. tioning means or set i forth in claim 16 wherein the lateral yielding of i :au guides o adapted :c permit the cmm of a i relatively large beet'hoping a wide stalk to pfoi fee: between ma guide; to a higher position cori respondingtoadeepercutthaninthccaseofa relatively small beet having a narrow stalk.

z2. In a beet harvesting machine of the type wherein the foliage of partially unearthed beets l g frlctlonally engaged by coacting conveyor eleon a wheeled frme passing thercoverr which raise the beets rearwdrdly and upwardly to a pair of opposite driven disc cutters for severing the crown and foliage from the main body of the beet root, and wherein positioning for cutting requires each beet to be pulled away' from the conveyor path, improved conveyor elements comprising Opposed endless belts mounted on the frame to provide adjacent surfaces positioned to engage beet foliage a substantial distance above the beet crown. one of said belts being of the resilient v-belt type and the other being of the link-chain type.

Z3. In a beet harvesting machine of the type wherein the foliage of partially unearthed beets is frictionally engaged by coactfng conveyor elcments on a wheeled [rame passing thereover which raise the beets rearwardly and upwardly through positioning guide means to a tmwfw mechanism for severing the crown and foliage from the main body of the beet root. improved topping mechanism comprising a pair of adiac'ent oppositely power-driven disc cutters mount- 'ed on the frame in substantially fixed positions. said cutters having convex lower surfaces adapted to create a downward wedoifw Pressure an either side of the lower beet root upon entering the beet. and said cutters hoping radial serrations adapted by said wedging pressure to provide 'lace as well as perimeter bite in forcing said beet through the cutters to a point where said wedafnv pressure will snap the root from the crown.

Z4. The combination set forth in claim 23 wherein s oid beet positioning guide means includes a pair of guide members mounted on the frame with continuous longitudinally extending surfaces for registering against the crown of a beetoneitherstdeofthestalkandeztendingparallel to the cutting planes of saiddisc cutters.

25. The combination set forth in claim 2J wherein said beet positioning guide means includes laterallyA resilient guide members'snoanted on the frame with continuous longitudinallyl eztending surfaces for registering against the crown and stalls on either side of the beet and extending parallel to the cutting planes of said disc cutters.

26. The combination set forth' in claim 23 wherein the cutting planes of said disc cutters extend parallel to the path of said conveyor.

27. The combination set forth in claim 23 wherein said beet positioning guide means tncludes laterally resilient guide memers mounted on the frame with continuous longitudinally es:- tending surfaces for registering minst the crown and stall: on either side of the beet and extending parallel to the cutting planes of said Vdisc cutters and to the path of said conveyor.

ERVIN V. WMCK. ADALENE E. FLOEI'ER.

Aammiscrairiz, of :he snare of :award J. meier.

Deceased.

summons man The following references are o! record in the me of this patent or the orislnaimtent:

UNITED STATES PATENTE Certificate of Correction Reissue No. 23,565 October 14, 1952 ERVIN V. WAACK ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent, requiring correction as follows Column 18, lines 6 and 58, for wheeled read suitably supp'ted;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent, Ooe.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of April, A. D. 1953.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant 0mm of raum. 

